The Metropolitan Police say they have arrested 17 people during today’s demonstrations over the conflict in the Middle East.
Two sets of protests were held in the capital today, including one by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups, and a counter-protest organised by Stop the Hate.
The Metropolitan Police say two people were arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.
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It comes after the force said they were “aware” of people displaying placards in support of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah – which is proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK.
There were eight arrests on suspicion of public order offences, four of which were allegedly racially aggravated.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, three arrested on suspicion of assault, and one person was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Public Order Act condition.
The act was imposed to avoid disorder after a counter-protest group was considered too close to the main march and well away from their agreed area.
Given the size of the crowd – which police have said appears to be “greater than other recent protests” – the force has asked witnesses to “take photos” of anyone holding placards supporting Hezbollah to help them investigate.
“What is easy to spot when walking among the crowd with a mobile phone is not always easy for officers to see from the edge of the crowd,” the Met Police said in a post on X.
“We are working to locate those involved. Action will be taken when we do, whether that is today or in the coming days.”
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A counter pro-Israeli demonstration in London. Pic: PA
Ahead of the anniversary of the 7 October attack on Israel, police said they are unaware of any significant public events taking place on Monday.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and other groups have organised a memorial event in Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.
Israeli authorities say around 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken to Gaza as hostages on 7 October last year, when Hamas militants stormed parts of southern Israel.
Read more:
A timeline of events in the year since 7 October
Faces of hostages who haven’t returned home
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since that day.
While that figure does not differentiate between fighters and civilians, many of those identified have been women, children and elderly people.